These six have not only held up to repeated listens, but I've found myself wanting to go back to them. Scalpel is awful to me, though I can see why many like it. All NWOBH is once in a blue moon music. Condor wasn't bad. I wouldn't mind seeing a bit more refinement and some dynamic pacing.

These six have not only held up to repeated listens, but I've found myself wanting to go back to them. Scalpel is awful to me, though I can see why many like it. All NWOBH is once in a blue moon music. Condor wasn't bad. I wouldn't mind seeing a bit more refinement and some dynamic pacing.

The Von album from last year was garbage. Is this year's album that much of an improvement?

Also, been listening to Thy Kingdom Come a lot since download was provided the other day. I'm not acquainted with Profanatica (not being a black metal fan in general) but this sounds pretty solid so far. Unfortunately I don't know of many other BM albums to compare it to this year, but it definitely gets the spirit of the music right. Musicianship is passable at least. Cover art is awesome. Otherwise the album must have some merit if someone as anti-BM as myself can understand it. Not sure how it deserves to be on a year-end list compared to some of the other great stuff already recommended.

Cultes Des Ghoules - Henbane is less than Haxan so I did not want to name (my opinion).so also Darkened Nocturn Slaughtercult - Necrovision , was not as superior as their previous work, the other does not convince me yet and I'm listening to more than once is to Nocturnal Graves (is more D666).

I got to disagree here...Von and Krypts sound nice aesthetically, but I do not think they strike real gold.Ulcerate is.. well cool experimentation, leave it at that.Immolation is clutching at its own past but cannot reach it. This album seems to be trying hard to be Here in After but with more catchy sections and simpler structures.I found Grave Miasma ok for a spin, but I don't even find an original voice in there. Too generic.

That Immolation album is straight garbage, I lost a lot of respect for Vigna, Dolan and co. after their last two. It double sucks because I love that fucking baldy, Bob Vigna is a genius.

They've definitely lost their edge.

Most of these best-of lists in recent years seem to be dominated by bands that sound like either Incantation or Havohej/Profanatica, bands I never enjoyed at all. I wonder if such a basic style is just easier to pull off convincingly or what. It's why I definitely give my vote to Summoning; a refined style like that takes much more care and dedication to do effectively than yet another "Onward to Golgotha" worship fest.

I got to disagree here...Von and Krypts sound nice aesthetically, but I do not think they strike real gold.Ulcerate is.. well cool experimentation, leave it at that.Immolation is clutching at its own past but cannot reach it. This album seems to be trying hard to be Here in After but with more catchy sections and simpler structures.I found Grave Miasma ok for a spin, but I don't even find an original voice in there. Too generic.

Aosoth and Saligia, I have yet to listen.

Do check out Aosoth IV, it is very solid. Sounds like older Deathspell Omega, but quite a lot more coherent. Not sure about it being end-of-year list material though.

* Not heard the full album; based on the recommendations of others.** As above, but not a contender in my opinion.

Metal is a wasteland, but to answer for-what, to raise and praise the best. No one else will do it. I dont understand the defeatist attitude, the sweep of history is broad. Maybe there wont be any great metal again in our lifetimes even. So what? If I can convince one person towards quality metal that is enough. INTJ syndrome in action gets painful to listen to, like eavesdropping on revolutionaries. Add chill.